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UJP Structure

UJP Structure

Membership in UJP

United for Justice with Peace (UJP) is a coalition of peace and justice organizations and community peace and justice groups in the Greater Boston region. UJP welcomes the affiliation of any active Massachusetts (or nearby New Hampshire or Rhode Island) organization which is in agreement with the UJP principles and which agrees to work cooperatively and in good faith with other UJP organizations. Both peace and justice organizations and community groups are Member Groups of UJP.

Expectations of UJP and of Member Groups

·UJP is expected to help Member Groups by coordinating, supporting, and promoting their work.

·Member Groups are requested to publicize major UJP events, support fundraising activities or make an annual financial contribution if possible, and participate in UJP task forces and activities.

UJP Planning Group

·The role of the Planning Group is to make organizational decisions (e.g. establishment of a new Task Force, enrollment of new UJP Member Groups); policy decisions (e.g. endorsements); and financial decisions (i.e. spending money).

·The Planning Group communicates with other local, statewide, and national coalitions and organizations who are not members of UJP, plans the strategy meeting, and oversees the website and email lists.

·The Planning Group will meet at least twice a month, in person or by conference call.

·The Planning Group will make decisions by seeking consensus or if necessary by a 2/3 vote.

UJP Task Forces

·The role of a Task Force is to focus on a particular topic that falls within the overall peace and justice work of UJP.

·A Task Force must be authorized by the Planning Group and affirmed by the Strategy Meeting.

·Task Forces should report on their work regularly to the Planning Group and the Planning Group should review their work periodically (e.g. every six months).

·A Task Force must include at least three individuals from at least two Member Groups and must meet at least once a month in person or by conference call.

UJP Standing Committees

·UJP has three Standing Committees – Community Outreach Committee (COC), Administrative Committee, and Online Organizing Committee. The three Standing Committees report to the Planning Committee and the Strategy Meeting.

·The functions of the Community Outreach Committee are to organize the community brunch and to facilitate the growth and development of the community peace groups.

·The functions of the Online Organizing Committee are website development and management, e-mail outreach, and other online communications.

·The functions of the Administrative Committee are to monitor finances, maintain the office, and update and manage the database.

·A Standing Committee must include at least two individuals from at least two Member Groups and meet at least once a month in person or by conference call.

Composition of the UJP Planning Group

·Each UJP Member Group, Task Force, and Standing Committee should select a representative to the Planning Group.

·Each Member Group, Task Force and Standing Committee will decide on how it will select its representative to the Planning Group and can change their representative at any time.

·To have a vote at a Planning Group meeting a representative of a Member Group, Task Force, or Standing Committee must be present at 1 of the past 3 Planning Group meetings and must have a representative who participates in UJP activities.

·Representatives of new Member Groups, new Task Forces, or new Standing Committees can vote at their second Planning Group meeting.

·Representatives of Member Groups, Task Forces, or Standing Committees are expected to represent their Member Group, Task Force, or Standing Committee and not act as individuals.

·A representative of a Member Group, Task Force, or Standing Committee has only one vote and can only vote as a representative of one of three groups comprising the Planning Group.

·A representative of a Member Group, Task Force, or Standing Committee can represent more than one of three groups comprising the Planning Committee.

·A list of Planning Group voting members and the groups they represent will be posted on the website and updated at regular intervals.

·Planning Group minutes will be posted on the website for better communication with the UJP Member Groups.

·Balanced representation on the Planning Group between peace and justice organizations and community peace and justice groups is a high priority

What does it mean if the UJP Planning Group sponsors a program or campaign?

·All Member Groups are requested to publicize the program if feasible.

·The program is prominently displayed on the UJP web site and mailings.

·When representing UJP at a meeting, a person states that UJP is supporting the program.

Strategy Meeting

·UJP will hold a two to four Strategy Meetings a year for the purpose of discussing and shaping the broad directions of UJP’s work.

·Strategy Meetings will include educational presentations, reports and presentations by Task Forces and Standing Committees, and skill-building activities.

·The Planning Group is responsible for organizing the Strategy Meetings.

·Strategy Meetings are open to all individuals who are members of UJP Member Groups or task forces and others interested in the work of UJP. Only members of UJP Member Groups, task forces or committees may vote on UJP business.

Consultation Guidelines

·Sensitive issues need 1 month from introduction of the proposal to the decision. This allows each group to go back for discussion and come back with a position that represents their group.

·Every effort should be made to seek consensus and have in-depth discussion on important issues, while recognizing the needs for urgency and ongoing participation.

·We should be wary that the press of time and the absence of face-to-face contact can press for yes or no decisions rather than a consideration of principles and criteria for deciding, and how this particular decision is related to broader goals we share.

·A consensus-seeking process requires good facilitation, so we will strive to improve our facilitation practices.

Productive Working Relationships

·Members must be open and respectful to each other.

·When problems arise a small meeting with a facilitator may be helpful.

Modifications to the structure

·A structure committee may be formed by the Planning Group to review the structure and assess implementation.

·Modifications must be discussed at a Strategy Meeting.

·After one month for consultation, modifications can be adopted by 2/3 vote of the Planning Group and ratified by the Strategy Meeting.

Transition

·This document will be sent to all Member Groups for their feedback and proposed changes. The structure will become permanent when ratified at the next UJP Strategy Meeting.

·In the interim period while Member Groups are designating their representatives, the current Planning Group will continue to function.

To Register, send and email to register AT justicewithpeace.org with your name, email address, and affiliation (if any). You will receive an email from one our administrators with further instructions.